THERE was another silence for a while, then Carlson spoke up.“What are you talking about?” His voice sharpened. “You are not thinking about quitting, are you?”Maria sighed, rubbing her temples. “Yes, master. I’m seriously considering resigning. This wasn’t what I signed up for. The constant stress, the danger, dealing with Oswald... it is too much than I expected, way too much.”“Maria, you can’t just quit,” Carlson said, clearly shocked. “You are too important to our operation. Besides, Oswald still doesn’t know about your involvement. We need you to keep it that way.”“I’m aware,” Maria said bitterly. “But I’m at my limit. I can’t keep up this facade forever master, I'm sorry. It is only a matter of time before he finds out.”He fumed, fisting his left hand.“You are overreacting,” he insisted. “We just started, you just started, why back out now?”“I’m not overreacting,” Maria snapped. “I’m being realistic. This job is a ticking time bomb, and I’m not sticking around to see it bl
THERE was another silence for a while, then Carlson spoke up.“What are you talking about?” His voice sharpened. “You are not thinking about quitting, are you?”Maria sighed, rubbing her temples. “Yes, master. I’m seriously considering resigning. This wasn’t what I signed up for. The constant stress, the danger, dealing with Oswald... it is too much than I expected, way too much.”“Maria, you can’t just quit,” Carlson said, clearly shocked. “You are too important to our operation. Besides, Oswald still doesn’t know about your involvement. We need you to keep it that way.”“I’m aware,” Maria said bitterly. “But I’m at my limit. I can’t keep up this facade forever master, I'm sorry. It is only a matter of time before he finds out.”He fumed, fisting his left hand.“You are overreacting,” he insisted. “We just started, you just started, why back out now?”“I’m not overreacting,” Maria snapped. “I’m being realistic. This job is a ticking time bomb, and I’m not sticking around to see it bl
THE sun had barely risen when Maria awoke, the weight of the previous night's events still pressing heavily on her mind. She stretched and took a deep breath, steeling herself for another day under Oswald's unyielding rule. She quickly dressed and headed downstairs, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead.As she entered the kitchen, she found Oswald already seated at the table, his eyes fixed on a newspaper. He didn't acknowledge her presence, but she could feel his icy gaze piercing through the pages. “Go… good morning sir,” she swallowed hard as she greeted, he didn't respond.Not minding that, she moved silently, preparing breakfast with the same meticulous care she had applied to dinner the night before, making use of the new food timetable.Once the meal was ready, she set the table and served Oswald a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. She poured him a cup of coffee and stood back, waiting for any sign of approval. Oswald finally looked up from his newspaper,
IN helplessness, Maria glanced at the new timetable that was still in her hands, freshly made and written, with Oswald's signature precision in every detail. Each task was meticulously assigned, and her name appeared under various responsibilities. She sighed deeply, dreading the additional chores that were now officially hers.“Are you still standing there?” A loud voice roared and she flinched, suddenly realizing she was still standing.She looked towards the direction of the voice and saw him standing on the stairs and looking down at her. She frowned, make another dinner?“Um, sir, please what happens to the dinner I already made?” She found herself asking.“You can go give it to your hungry family,” he said.“Huh!” Her eyes widened in embarrassment.His expression hardened, and he cut her off with a dismissive wave. "I don't want to hear your excuses no more. The new timetable is effective immediately. Go make dinner," he said and walked off.Maria stood there, stunned. She had
IN his spacious, minimalist office sat Oswald, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the buildings. It had been a long day filled with meetings, negotiations, and the usual corporate politics. He leaned back in his chair, allowing himself a brief moment of respite before diving back into work.His phone buzzed on the sleek, glass-topped desk, breaking the silence. Oswald glanced at the caller ID: it was his mother, Lady Frances. He sighed, knowing this call was not something he could ignore. Reluctantly, he picked up the phone."Yes, Mother?" he said, his tone clipped and business-like."Oswald, dear, I wanted to let you know that I have hired a new maid," Lady Frances' voice came through the line, warm and maternal. "Her name is Maria. She is starting today, so please make her feel welcome."Oswald scoffed, leaning back further in his chair. "A new maid, huh? I suppose that is supposed to be excitin
THE next morning, Orlanda walked into the mall with a determined stride, her encounter with Oswald the previous day still fresh in her mind. As she approached the store where she worked, she spotted Winifred and Flourish already at the counter, chatting animatedly. They looked up as she entered, smiles spreading across their faces."Orlanda! You are here early," Flourish remarked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "What has got you in such a hurry?" She asked.Orlanda couldn't help but smile at her friends' enthusiasm. "You won't believe what happened to me yesterday," she said as she dropped her bag on the seat behind them.Winifred leaned in, her expression eager. "Spill the tea, girl. We need all the details."Orlanda took a deep breath, recounting the events of the previous day. "I almost got hit by a car while crossing the street. And guess whose damn car it was? Oswald, the infamous billionaire CEO."Winifred and Flourish's eyes widened in shock. "No way!" They exclaimed in